Teacher Shows 'Brokeback Mountain' In Class - Student's Family Sues

[matcom]

<snip>

A suit was filed on behalf of a 12-year-old girl who claims she suffered psychological distress when a teacher showed in class the gay-themed movie "Brokeback Mountain."

The girl, Jessica Turner, and her grandparents Kenneth and LaVerne Richardson, are seeking more than $400,000 in damages under the suit filed Friday against the Chicago Board of Education and others.

According to the suit, a substitute teacher introduced herself as Ms. Buford to Jessica's class at Ashburn Community Elementary School, 8300 S. St. Louis Ave. She then said, "What happens in Ms. Buford's class stays in Ms. Buford's class," the suit claims. Buford then had a student close the door, and started showing the controversial R-rated film, which features two men engaged in sex.

The suit alleges Ashburn's principal, Jewel A. Diaz, was aware that the tale of the love between two cowboys set in the West of the 1960s was being shown to the minors.

Turner later told her grandfather that she was confined to her seat and felt she could not leave the room, according to the suit filed in Cook County Circuit Court.

The plaintiffs accuse Diaz, Buford and the Chicago Board of Education of negligence, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/education/383097,CST-NWS-broke13.article

[DS1]

1. also wants new batteries for Harry Potter Magic Wand

:eyes:

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. and for the Harry Potter vibrating flying broom

:7

[DS1]

3. yes that's what I mean

damn

[meegbear]

5. Hey you!

Welcome back! :woohoo:

[DS1]

6. Hey bud!

:hi:

[TheMightyFavog]

4. YOu know, I'm no homophobic bigot or anything...

But any teacher who would show an R-Rated film to a classroom of 12 year olds deserves to be punished!

[DS1]

7. Schindler's List?

Glory?

[Zywiec]

8. I agree with you.

Restricted-Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. They are pretty stupid not to even require a permission slip.

[MissMillie]

9. yep

permission slip should be required

[sarge43]

20. Every school I've sub'd, aided or worked as a student teacher

absolutely required a permission slip for any film that could be considered intense, violent, sexual or even politically charged. Any R rated film, for sure.

I was teaching a block on propaganda to a sophomore class. I got permission slips from the parents and clearance from the principal to show bits from Triumph of the Will. This is an area where teachers and admin can't be too careful.

The girl's parents may be homophobic and money grubbers, but they're well within their rights. That sub and principal stepped in it.

[realisticphish]

10. meh

I guess I'll go along with the letter of the law, even if the law is idiotic. I think 12 year olds would be able to handle it

[Left Is Write]

15. This was an elementary school, a class of 11- and 12-year-olds.

It isn't up to the school or the sub to decide whether the kids can "handle" an R-rated film. That's up to the parents. Prior notice of the showing and a required permission slip would have been more appropriate.

[idgiehkt]

16. yes

I was almost afraid to read this thread. Like, I wouldn't want my 12 year old, (theoretical) watching, say, An Officer and a Gentleman, or something like that. This is disturbing.

[realisticphish]

18. i won't deny

that in this case, as things stand, a permission slip is obvious. And, in a school regardless of law, a permission slip is appropriate.

I just have a serious problem with the ratings system, that's all

[Left Is Write]

19. The ratings system just gives us a starting point from which to evaluate...

I'd say that when my oldest was 12 there were some R-rated movies that would have been okay for her, and others that were not. I actually wouldn't have wanted her to see Brokeback Mountain because of its tragic and sad deaths, as she was extremely oversensitive to sad themes.

[realisticphish]

23. granted

but I disagree with their criteria, with the films that fall under it. For example, they now consider cigarette smoking to be a factor in rating. I mean, I'm not a smoker, and I hate smoking, but I hardly consider that to be a valid factor. It's not a serious thing for me, as I'm past the age were it matters :D

[nini]

21. it depends on the kid at that age

some are more than mature enough - some are sheltered and naive.


The only movie we saw in school back then was the movie about girls and that oh so special time of our livew when menstruation hits.. actually I think it may have been a cartoon :eyes:

[JoDog]

11. Exactly

Most of the problem (as far as I understand it) was that the sub was showing ANY R-rated movie to 8th graders. The fact that it earned the R rating for scenes of frank (straight and gay) sexuality adds another dimension to it.

As far as the downthread mention of the films "Glory" and "Schindler's List", those are historically based (although embellished) films; I could understand them being part of a high school history class. But even then, permission slips should be sent out before the showing because of the violence and language in both. I can't really see what educational purpose was served by showing "Brokeback Mountain" to 8th graders. Maybe it could fit into a high school/college discussion of sexuality and social norms, but not for a class that young. I think that the sub's only aim here was to show the kids a movie to keep them quiet and not have to actually try to teach them something.

[Connonym]

12. my 13 year old was assigned "Snow Falling on Cedars" for English class

I hadn't read the book. I am SO not a prude but I was a bit shocked when my daughter talked to me about some of the sex scenes in the book. Not as shocked though as I was when I found out that the (also 13 year old) girl who sits behind her in Spanish class is pregnant.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

13. 10 days in the stockades sounds appropriate.

Punished? Sheesh.

[Montauk6]

14. Not only that folks but, hey, this story is a bit creepy, no?

What goes on in Ms. Buford's class, stays in Ms. Buford's class???

No no, Ms. Buford, your first mistake is in staking "claim" to this class; you're a SUB! And clearly one who just wants to wile the time away showing movies instead of teaching something. (Sorry, I got smacked in the head by a sub once so I'll freely admit a bias there BUT STILL!...)

I really don't think it's about homophobia, JC, whether it's Schindler's List, The Godfather, The Hills Have Eyes, Last Tango In Paris, or Porky's, there's no way in the world an elementary school teacher should be showing R-rated movies to students. Even if the movie's PG or PG-13, there should be some parental OK prior.

[Divameow77]

17. Another stupid lawsuit

Yeah the teacher shouldn't have shown and R rated movie to 12 year olds, but $400,000 in damages???

[cobalt1999]

22. if that happened in my daughters class, I'd be pissed.

However, I wouldn't go down the money grubbing suing path.

I'll decide what, if any, R rated films my kids can see and shouldn't the teacher be actually TEACHING?

[pitohui]

24. oh isn't this a total hoax?

does anyone believe this really happened?

hey

my maid microwaved my poodle to dry out his little curls and he exploded and it made a real mess, i think i will sue, i know it happened because even though i don't have a maid, a microwave, or a poodle, i read it in the newspaper! so it must be true!

[donheld]

25. And rightfully so says this Gay guy N/T